She Becomes The Hero In Another World 81 She Dreams Of Her Pas

"It's getting late. Robin needs to return to bed rest soon." Jasmine said.

"We need to leave early to make up for lost time. It's best if he gets to bed as soon as he can." Christian added. For once, both Christian and Jasmine were in total agreement, which was a rare occasion.

"But I-" Robin was about to protest.

"No buts! As your acting physician, I have made perfectly clear that you are not to strain yourself!" Jasmine refuted.

"She's right, she's right!" Christian added. "It's best to follow her orders even if you feel fine. A strained mana source is not something to take lightly, after all. You'll need a lot of rest if you want to recover quickly."

Robin observed them, confused. But, while the two cousins were acting a bit odd, she didn't sense any falseness or fakeness in their protective att.i.tude. Sighing, she could only bid the mayor and his daughter goodnight, and retire for the evening.

That night, Robin had another nightmare.

She was running, endlessly running, through the school halls. It didn't matter what corners she turned, a hallway stretched out endlessly before her. She weaved through the endless flow of students in the hallway, who ignored her as if she was a simple breath of air.

Robin didn't bother to ask them for help. They were as pa.s.sive as a moving store mannequin, and twice as uncaring. Even the occasional glance of sympathy couldn't get their rock hard hearts to move in her defense.

"Why must you make this so difficult, every time?"

"You know this is only prolonging the inevitable!"

"Is she an idiot?"

Behind her, a crowd's worth of light-hearted laughter and joking sounded harshly in her ears, only a corner away from catching sight of her.

Gone was her fighting skills, and close combat expertise. Gone was her cool-headed sense of judgement, and perfect protection plan. Now she was just a scared, frightened young girl with no one to rely on.

"Hey, your older brother is so rich, my older sister is dying to meet him! When are you going to invite us over?"

"You know this is only going to keep happening until you say yes, you know."

Robin specifically avoided areas with teachers on patrol. They would do nothing but stop her for running in the halls, and allow her to get caught.

"Robin, my dad is so sad that you don't want to live with him.

Your brother is so busy with the company, there's no way that he can properly take care of you!

Come back home to live with your uncle! Aren't we cousins?

You're so rich. Lend me your allowance this week, as well, or else you're going to be sleeping in the cellar again!"

A cold s.h.i.+ver travelled up Robin's spine, as she redoubled her efforts. How had they found out which school she was attending? Was her uncle also here? Did he bring over that terrible old man that he wanted to get her married off to, in the future?

Panic built up in her as she both strived for, yet dreaded each turning of the corner. Where would her uncle be? Where would she run into him? The only place left that she could escape to was the roof.

She dashed with all her might up the stairs that suddenly appeared before her. Quickly, she arrived at the top landing, and tugged open the door. Footsteps echoed up the stairs behind her. They were almost in sight! She swiftly pulled the door shut behind her, and stuffed an iron pole through the handle, effectively locking the door.

"Robin! Open the door!"

"Someone go get the teacher!"

"Teacher, something's wrong with Robin! I think she might be suicidal!"

"Robin! Open this door! Don't make us call the fire department again!"

"Robin!" The voices called out, banging on the heavy metal door.

Robin backed away from the door. She didn't want to listen. She didn't want to hear the fake friendliness and words filled with double meanings. She didn't want to see the smiles that never reached a person's eyes, or the hidden smirks of her cla.s.smates when they successfully fooled the teachers again.

The door was closed, and barred. Robin was safe.

"Robin." A voice said softly behind her. Robin felt her heart descend into her stomach as she heard the voice that she dreaded to hear.

She whirled about, on high alert as she once again saw the amiable expression of her father's younger brother. But that smile was just a mask. There was nothing amiable about this uncle. She didn't say anything. She couldn't say anything. Her heart had jumped up into her throat, making it hard to speak.

"Robin, dear, why did you leave me? Didn't I tell you to come home right after school yesterday? Mr Dawkins was very sad not to see his favorite future bride at home."

Robin shook her head fiercely.

"You don't like him? It doesn't matter. You will learn to like him. But for now, all you need to do is do what I say. After all, I am your guardian. That silly nephew of mine can't possibly take proper care of you, now that he's so busy at the office. Heh heh."

He stepped closer. Robin stepped back.

"Come along, Robin. We need to meet Mr. Dawkins today. He might get upset if you're not there. And, we can't have you making him upset before the engagement is settled."

He stepped forward. Robin stepped back. He continued speaking amiably. A wrinkled old man showed up behind her uncle.

"What's taking you so long, Harry? I've got a schedule to keep!" Dawkins grumbled. "It's bad enough that she cut her beautiful long hair off, and tore up all the dresses I sent her. Now she doesn't even want to see me?"

"Just a minute, Mr. Dawkins. It will only take a few minutes. She's just in her rebellious stage now." Her uncle pacified the wrinkled old man, as he turned back to Robin.

"You know that aside from you and your brother, he holds almost all the other stock in the company. If you make him angry, he might do something to, I don't know, remove your older brother for good...That's why we need to hurry home."

Robin shrunk farther back, and shook her head. She wasn't going! She mustn't go! She wouldn't go! Her s.h.i.+vering back b.u.mped against the railing on the edge of the roof.

Her uncle's amiable smile finally disappeared. "You won't go?" He asked, as his face morphed into a fierce, enraged visage.

"I am your true guardian! You must listen to me! No one cares about you! The police won't help you! It doesn't matter how many times you run away: it's no use! We'll just drag you back home! Disobedient niece! If you cannot learn to obey me" He struck out at her, thrusting her over the edge of the railing.

"Then you shouldn't be allowed live!" The words rang out in the empty s.p.a.ce as Robin could only watch with shock as the edge of the roof got farther and farther away.

WHAM!

Robin gasped and bolted upright in bed, cold sweat breaking out all over. Her hand trembled as she checked her surroundings.

'That's right. I'm fine. It didn't happen like that. Brother had placed a listening bug on me, and arrived in time to stop him. He recorded the whole thing. We already won the court case. Uncle's in jail. And Mr. Dawkins died of a heart attack. There's no way they could be here.' Robin remembered, with a shudder.

But, the sun rose that morning upon the dark circles under Robin's eyes. She hadn't been able to get back to sleep. Even after telling herself that she now had more fighting power than a tank, it still wasn't enough.

Surprisingly, when she opened her door, she saw two of the knights guarding her room.

"What was this about?" Robin asked Jasmine, indicating the two guards.

"Just preventing any possibilities for bad rumors flying around." Jasmine answered, looking up from her book.

Upon seeing Robin's dark circles, she only asked one question. "Nightmares?"

Robin nodded.

"They're always especially bad during the recovery period." Jasmine sighed, having expected it. "I can give you an eight hour sleeping potion, of my own invention. Nightmare free is guaranteed. But you won't be able to wake up before eight hours is finished." She offered.

Robin considered it. "Thanks. But I think I can handle it. It's just some ghosts from my past, haunting me in my dreams." She paused. "But, if I feel I need it, then I'll take you up o that offer."